ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to decline the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from New York City’s Noguchi Museum after the museum fired three employees for wearing keffiyeh head scarves, which are widely recognized as symbols of Palestinian solidarity.
In a statement released Wednesday, the museum acknowledged her decision and expressed respect for her perspective, noting that the updated dress code policy may not align with everyone’s views.
Lahiri, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for her book “Interpreter of Maladies,” joins a larger conversation as protests around the world have seen the keffiyeh worn by demonstrators advocating for Palestinian rights. This scarf has a rich history, including being worn by figures like Nelson Mandela, while some supporters of Israel interpret it as a symbol of extremism.
The museum’s controversial policy, which prohibits employees from wearing items that convey political messages, led to the dismissal of the three staff members. The decision comes amid heightened tensions following ongoing violence in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
